David Neil Ireland AM (24 August 1927 – 26 July 2022) was an Australian novelist.
David Ireland | |
---|---|
Born | Lakemba, New South Wales, Australia | 24 August 1927
Died | 26 July 2022 | (aged 94)
Occupation | Novelist |
Notable works | |
Notable awards | Miles Franklin Award (1971, 1976, 1979) |
David Ireland was born in Lakemba in New South Wales in 1927.
Before taking up full-time writing in 1973, he undertook the classic writer's apprenticeship by working in a variety of jobs, ranging from greenskeeper to an extended period in an oil refinery.
This latter job inspired his second (and best-known) novel, The Unknown Industrial Prisoner, which brought him recognition in the early 1970s. It is still considered by many critics to be one of the best and most original Australian novels of the period.
He won the Miles Franklin Award three times (1971, 1976 and 1979). He is one of only four Australian writers to win the Award more than twice; the others are Thea Astley (4) and Tim Winton (4), and Peter Carey (3).
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 1981.[4][5]